Flashing toy construction



Dec. 13, 1955 Q HUGHES ETAL 2,726,483

FLASHING TOY CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 18, 1952 "I....IIIIIIII;'

um sari! man-.uIIIIIII/l 5. WHLKE I Q7 'Vide improved "tOy 'With afifonfat which intennittemly energize a ligh't as i United States Patent 2,726,483 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 ice FLASHING TOY CONSTRUCTION Charles E Hughes; Chicago; -and William S."Walker,' River Forest, Ill. ApplicationNovemiliei"18, 1952,'Serial'No; 321,142

9 Clairns. (Cl:46"-228)- Our invention' relates' to an improved toy of thetype wherein a rotorrevolves and a light is intermittently energized in accord with the'rotations.

Children show a particularattraction 'to toys of the type wherein an animal figurey-such as a bug, or a vehicle figure; such 'as an airplane, executes movements rethe rnovingf animal, a light which simulates the light pro du'e'ed bya lightn'ing bug. or similar intermittently fenergiz'ed'li'ghtedanimal" or vehicle. Electric 'circuit=elemerits are arranged and provided to energize the light intermittently as theirotor turns; thus causing the 'movingfa-ni'mal or vehicle figure to light intermittently in a manner'simulatingkthe'intermittentfiashes of light producedin the real animal-or vehicle,-"such as alightnin'g'sbug;

In addition to simulating' a lightning bugythe toyof the resent-invention *maybe adapted to simulate the action of anarpla'ne with blinkin'g identification lights. 'Inthis instance-wire figure-attachetl'-to-'the rotor is-ari airplane with lighfs loeated in the positions of I airplane identification lights I I 's; th'erefor'e', a generalobiectof'the present invention to provide an improved toy whereina rotor carries a lighted figure which-blinks astherotoi"turns. V

' Themovel features' wh-ieh we believe" to becliaraeteristic atone-invention are set-'for th with parti'eularityin tli appefided' claims. Our inVe'nti6n itself, however, together vwth further objects and" advantages ther-e05;- will best be understood' by reference to the following description; taken ---inconnection with the I appended -drawi1igs, in which? Figure 4 is a view in perspeetive'ofa toy constructedin accordance with the present invention --whilein use;'

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partially in cross-section of the toy of Figure 1;- j v I Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through axis 3-3, Figure 2; t

Figure tis a fragrnenta-rytopplan view of Figure'2 as ir'fdicated bythe axis 4 4, Figure 2;

rotor'12 has a sleeve portion 13awhich fits rat Figure 5 is a view like Figure"4-showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is an'exploded view in'perspe'ctive showing the switcheleme'nts of the structure of 'Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view'like Figure 6 of an alternative-form of the switch elements; and,

Figure 8 is a viewlike Figure-60f still another'form of the 'switch elements.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown at 10 aha ndle held by the hand H of 'the user of the toy. A rotor indicated generally at 12 is received upon the handle 10 and embraces or encloses the top portion of thesa'rne. The rotor has an inner cylindrical part 12a'which enconipasses the handle and anarm part 12b "extending radially outwardly therefrom. A bug figure' '14 inthe term atlalightning bug is disposed at the outer extreme of the'ar'm 12b. A light bulb 16 is located at the endof the arm 'part 12b in a position simulating that of the illuminated -'tail portion'of'a lightning bug.

The construction of the handle 10 is shown in greater detail in Figures '2 and 6. It consists -of a downwardly extending portion 10a which is gripped by the user ofthe toy and a headed upper endlOb which is enlarg'edas shown to define a flat circular upper face 10c. A conductingsegm'ent or commutator element -10d-of copper or the like extends diametrically'acrossthe face- "of the handle 10. This conducting segmentser-ves to-ig'n'ite the light intermittently as described -in furtherdetail hereafter. 7

As shown-in'Figure fl the cylindrical part 122i oftlie over the handle part 10a to support the sariie forrations. At part 1312 the rotor part 12a extends outwardlyto form an annular shoulder "andatp'art'13e -therotor-extends in "a tubularshape to theupperthreaded extreniity 13d. 7

The rotor part 12b consists of a threadedca'p portion 1521 received onthe threads 13d. Thisca" i's' w'elded-or otherwise-attached to the bent radial tube I5bs A lightsoc kt 18 is press fitted in -the end of the tiibelsb as shown socket 18 is of copper -or "sirnilar-conducting material; as is thetube 155,1 0 that the outer" she'll eff the socket establishes a circuit c'c'u me'ction g 'tothe ttib' 155. Since the cap- 15a-and the cylinder 1221 I are also of electrically -electrically conducting relation with-"the cylinder 12a;

A "battery 20 "of th'e' flashlight type is snugly received in the tube or cylinder "1 2m T he 'top 'or positive tei ni' 'al 20aof this battery extends towards-the -eap' 15d and -is in electrically contacting {relationwith "=th central eenductingriv'e't 2211 of the disk 22. An 'insulat'edwi're' are connected at -its-=opposite endsto the I conducting 'rivet 22a and' 'to the socket '18 to-form an electrical connection fro'r'n 'the center terminal of'the'li'gh't bulb T6 to the posifive-terminal ofthe battery 20.

sulatiiig di'sk- '26 extends upwardly and against" the exposed bottom"surface of the nie'tallic-casin'gbf thebattery 20 to establish electrical contact therewith. lhi s spring contact is" a'tfixed'to the disk zfi-by ti-conducting rivet 261: which extends through thedisk'find protrudes from the oppositeside'the'r'eof to form acoritafb'irtton as shown in Figure 2. A second conducting rivet 26c extends through the disk 26 and protrudes therefrom to form a spaced contact button as shown. This rivet secures a second spring contact arm 26d to the disk 26. The contact arm 26d extends radially outwardly to wipe against the inner surface of the conducting tube 12a. It accordingly is in conducting relation with the outer jacket of the socket 18 and the outer face of the base of the light 16.

The head end b of the handle 10 is urged against the disk 26 by the compression spring 28 which seats against the annular shoulder part 13b of the tube 13a and against the annular shoulder formed by the back face of the head 10b of the handle 10.

The energizing circuit for the light 16 can be traced from the battery 20 through the spring contact 26a to the rivet and contact button 26b. The circuit can be further traced from the contact button 266 to the spring contact 26d to the conducting tube 13c. The circuit extends from the tube 130 through the cap a and the tube 15b to the outer face of the socket 18. This face of the socket is in contact with the outer shell of the light base and hence one end of the filament of the light 16. The other end of the filament is connected to the central contact of the base of the light 16 so that the circuit can be traced through wire 23 to the contact button 22a and hence the terminal a of the battery 20.

It will thus be seen that a complete circuit extends from the battery to the light and is interrupted only between contacts 26b and 26c. These contacts are intermittently bridged by the conducting segment 10d on the handle 10. Since this conducting segment remains stationary while the rotor 12-and the disk 26rotates, the effect is to intermittently open and close the circuit and thus intermittently light the light 16.

The disk 26 is held in fixed position by the set screw 30, Figure 3. This set screw is threadedly received by the disk 26 and extends through a countersunk hole in the tube 13c as shown.

In the apparatus as above described, the conducting segment 10d bridges the contact buttons 26b and 26c twice for each rotation of the rotor. In the alternative form of Figure 7, the headed end of the handle 10 has a series of four irregularly spaced conducting segments 110d, each extending over less than the full radius of the headed end of the handle. The disk 26 is in this case provided with a pair of radially spaced contact rivets 12Gb and 126c positioned to be bridged by the conducting segments 11%. The contact rivets 126b and 126:: are attached to contact springs similar to 26a and 26d, Figure 2, so that contact 126b is connected to the outer metallic casing of the battery 20 and contact 126c connects with the tube 130, or vice versa. Thus, as the rotor turns, the contacts 126b and 1260 are bridged four times for each rotation and intermittently, thus flashing the light in a manner simulating the lighting of a lightning bug.

Figure 8 shows still another form of the invention wherein a flexible blade 227 extends between contact rivets 226C and 226f which are connected as above described in connection with the rivets 126b and 1260. The headed end of the handle 10 has a series of protuberances or cam surfaces 210d over which the flexible blade 227 rides to be intermittently flexed to contact making position as the rotor turns. This intermittently lights the light 16, Figure 2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the animal figure 14 in in the form of a lightning bug facing inwardly luminous tail part of the figure. Alternatively, the bug may face outwardly, or be above or below the arm 15b, as desired.

The bug 14 may also be positioned on a circumferen tial outer portion 150 of the arm 15 as shown in Figure 5. In this case the rotor may rotate in the direction of the arrow of Figure 5 to give a realistic forward motion of the bug 14.

and with the light 16 located at the If desired the toy may be made of a plastic casing and arm construction. In this case a second electrical conductor is required, the conductor extending from the outer part of the light base to the conducting rivet 26c.

It will be observed that the battery 20 may be readily removed by unscrewing cap 15a. Thus a replacement may be easily inserted without impairing operation of the toy.

While we have shown and described the present invention as applied to a lightning bug toy, it will be apparent that it may be used with an airplane figure or any other figure desired to light intermittently or periodically as the rotor turns. In the case of an airplane, two or more lights may be put on the figure to simulate identification lights.

In the appended claims I have used the term rotate or revolve continuously to signify the uninterrupted rotation of the rotor as distinguished from a mere change in rotor position from one point to another.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will, of course, be understood that many modifications and alternative constructions may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. We, therefore, intend by the appended claims to cover all alternative constructions and modifications following within their true spirit and scope.

We claim:

1. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a headed end with a conducting segment on its top face; a rotor having a tubular portion embracing the headed end of the handle; a battery in the tubular portion of the rotor; an insulating member disposed between the battery and the headed end of the handle, the member having a pair of contacts adapted to be bridged by the conducting segment on the handle; a spring disposed on the tubular portion of the rotor and seating against the headed end of the handle to urge the same against the insulating member; and means defining an electric circuit through the battery, the lamp, and the contacts.

2. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a headed end with a conducting segment on its top face; a rotor comprising a tubular portion received over the headed end of the handle and a radially extending arm; a figure and a light positioned on the end of the arm; a battery received in the tubular portion of the rotor; an insulating member with a pair of contacts located between the battery and the headed end of the handle, the contacts being adapted to be bridged by the conducting segment on the handle; and means defining an electric circuit from the battery through the contacts to the lamp.

3. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a headed end with a conducting segment on its top face; a rotor having a tubular portion received over the headed end of the handle; a disk having a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be bridged by the conducting segment and positioned within the rotor and in operative contact with the headed end of the handle; a light on the rotor; a battery within the tubular portion of the rotor; and means defining an electric circuit through the battery, the lamp, and the contacts on the disk.

4. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a headed end defining a circular track with a protuberance thereon; a rotor received on the handle and adapted to revolve continuously about the same; and having a pressure switch positioned to ride on the track as the rotor turns in relation to the handle, the switch being actuated when it rides over the protuberance; a light on the rotor; means to energize the light; and elements defining an electric circuit from the said last means through the switch to the light.

5. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a headedend with an electrically conducting segment; a rotor I received on the headed end of the handle and adapted to revolve continuously about the same; a light on the rotor; a battery in the rotor; means defining an electric circuit from the battery to the light, said means including a pair of contacts operable to engage the conducting segment of the headed end of the handle and intermittently light the light.

6. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a longitudinal axis and a headed end; a rotor received upon the headed end of the handle for rotations about the said axis in complete rotations; a light on the rotor; energizing means for the light; means defining an electric circuit from the energizing means to the light; and switch elements including the headed end of the handle operable to complete the energizing circuit intermittently as the rotor rotates about the handle.

7. A toy comprising in combination: a handle; a twopart rotor swingably supported from the handle to be rotated continuously upon motions of the handle, one part of the rotor being in the form of a cylinder into which the handle extends and the other part of the rotor extending radially outwardly from said one part; a light disposed on said other part of the rotor; energizing means for the light; means defining an electric circuit from the energizing means to the light; and cooperating switch elements on the handle and on the rotor operable intermittently to complete the circuit as the rotor swings.

8. A toy comprising in combination: a handle; a rotor swingably supported from the handle to be rotated continuously about the same upon motions of the handle; a

light positioned on the rotor; an energizing means on the rotor to light the light; means defining an electric circuit from the energizing means to the light; and cooperating switch elements on the handle and on the rotor operable intermittently to complete the circuit as the rotor rotates about the handle.

9. A toy comprising in combination: a handle having a longitudinal axis; a rotor swingably supported from the handle to be rotated continuously about said axis upon motions of the handle; a light positioned on the rotor; energizing means to light the light; means defining an electric circuit from the energizing means to the light; and cooperating switch elements on the handle and on the rotor operable intermittently to complete the circuit as the rotor rotates about the handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,363,325 Kohn Dec. 28, 1920 1,595,023 Probe Aug. 3, 1926 1,787,349 Arnold Dec. 30, 1 930 2,036,328 Furey Apr. 7, 1936 2,349,453 Noel May 23, 1944 2,564,412 Haase Aug. 14, 1951 2,618,893 Gelardin NOV. 25, 1952 

